The life of a pipeliner's wife

Friday

Oct 25, 2013 at 2:38 PM

Connie DuvallMMI Reporter

The Moberly Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a luncheon for pipeline wives Wednesday at The Lodge in Moberly's Rothwell Park. Moberly Area Chamber of Commerce Director Debbie Miller invited several friends to attend the event and all had a delightful time visiting.

Darla Olson says she lives in an RV all the time (for the past seven years) and travels with her husband. They are living in Keytesville on land a friend of her husband owns. "Our dogs are in heaven," says Darla. "They can run!"

Darla's mother-in-law came to visit and they recently visited the quilt shop in Brunswick. "All the little towns [in the area] have been welcoming," though Darla says that is not always so.

Helen Glaze is originally from Arkansas. She laughs and says, "My husband has been working 52 years and has retired three times!" He does inspecting and they need him. So, the couple are in Moberly.

Christina Hardwick, of the state of Louisiana, and her husband, Michael, are living in a local mobile home park with their two children — Hayden, 6, and Haylee, 5. The children attend South Park School. Christina shares, "I've really enjoyed myself. The community is so friendly."

Patti Swenson and her husband, Marvin, of Minnesota, are living in Moberly. Patti smiles and says, "I've been to the Chamber, and enjoyed shopping here." While they lived in Alaska, Marvin lived in a "man camp," and was an ice road truck driver. She soon learned that was no life, with him being gone so much. Now they travel together.

Teresa Brown, of Louisiana, and her husband, Rodney, are staying at Pleasant Hill RV Park. They have been traveling eight years, but Rodney has been welding all of his life.

Each week, the pipeline wives meet somewhere for lunch. It isn't always pleasant being away from friends and family as they travel, but Moberly gives a big hearty welcome to its community.